Pupils at Robert Fitzroy Academy (RFA) are celebrating outstanding success in the Shakespeare Week 2026 Competition. Out of hundreds of entries, three pupils from RFA were named as winners and a further seven have received recognitions for the quality of their entries.  

The competition formed part of the school’s Shakespeare Week celebrations and was a natural extension of Robert Fitzroy’s annual performances of Macbeth, which support REAch2’s Shake It Up Shakespeare 11 Before 11 promise. This promise gives children the chance to explore Shakespeare through performance, build confidence and experience the excitement of bringing a play to an audience. Year 5 pupils entered the competition shortly after performing the play for parents and peers, while Year 6 pupils drew on their existing knowledge and understanding of Shakespeare’s work.

Artwork by Esme

With an open creative brief, pupils explored a range of artistic interpretations of Shakespeare before developing their own ideas. Looking at posters and artwork from around the world helped them understand how artists use symbolism, colour and composition to communicate themes and emotions. They then experimented with charcoal, paint and pencil, alongside observational drawing, to bring their own interpretations to life.

The finished pieces reflected far more than artistic skill alone. The children at RFA thoughtfully explored themes such as ambition, guilt, power and conscience in Macbeth, while others captured pivotal moments from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Every creative choice was carefully considered, with pupils confidently explaining the symbolism behind their work and how it represented the characters, themes and emotions within the plays.

Artwork by Mila

We’re delighted to celebrate Esme (Year 6), Mila (Year 6) for their interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Dhruv (Year 5), who were all named winners in the competition. Congratulations to Olivia (Year 5), Thomas (Year 5), Samuel (Year 5), Elias (Year 6), Charlie (Year 6), Sadie (Year 6) and Erin (Year 6) who will receive certificates in recognition of the outstanding quality of their entries.

Artwork by Dhruv

Marta Kuben, HLTA at Robert Fitzroy Academy said: 

“We are incredibly proud of the children for their creativity, dedication, and the maturity of their ideas. This has been a wonderful opportunity for them to express themselves artistically and to see their work recognised, which has meant a great deal to them.”

Congratulations to every pupil who took part. This is a brilliant display of the creativity and expression in our schools. 

The full online art collection can be seen here.